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Reviews
Darling (2015)
This is a 100% spoiler review
I think this is an underrated masterpiece that will eventually become a cult favorite. Definitely seems to have a divided audience who either love it or hate it with rarely an in-between opinion.
Art, of course, implies right away it's not going to be for everyone so that is expected. Bosch and Dali aren't universally acclaimed but their work is no less genius than Da Vinci or Van Gogh. Also art is open to interpretation and a single painting can mean something different to different people. This movie is much like that.
The sound design, location, and cast are all spot-on and intended to make the viewer edgy. The use of light, shadow, and framing enhances the off-kilter feeling in a similar way to German expressionism.
Enough preface - let's get down to it. My 100% SPOILER INTERPRETATION follows.
As Mickey Keating states in bonus features this movie is heavily influenced stylistically by movies like The Innocents, Diabolique, and Repulsion. In that respect it is a great tribute to those works.
Something nobody has mentioned in other reviews is the fact that Darling KNOWS THE NAME of the man she brings home to kill even though he didn't ask hers.
I believe the caretaker before Darling who committed suicide did it because the man Darling brought home, Henry Sullivan, had taken advantage of her and even possibly raped her, ridiculed her, abused her thoroughly psychologically and physically both. The ghost of that caretaker, who knew his name, possessed Darling and got her vengeance on him. It was her speaking through Darling during the 'kill scene'. At times this spirit was in possession of Darling causing her to do things and at other times Darling would become lucid and conscious of what she had done in and it was driving her mad. The genuine anguish expressed by Lauren Ashley Carter during those moments were very well done and convincing. Darling was a tool.
In the end the evil behind the door (upside down crucifix is a hint) drove her to the only logical end as it pushed her to suicide the same way as the previous caretaker.
Then in the mid-credits the pattern repeats itself. Sean Young's character seems to take a lot of joy in helping the snake swallow its tail again....
Not a movie for everyone but I definitely enjoyed the terrifying horror presented in black and white - what a ride!
Shimmer (2021)
VERY REFRESHINGLY ORIGINAL!
This had the feel of an X-Files episode except it's the woman who is open-minded to believing in something non-human. I had not heard of Nichole Galicia but it came as no surprise she's also a model. SPOILER ALERT: Some may find it difficult to get past a certain side-plot that is minimal but the focus of the movie is NOT on her husband. If finding out her husband is bisexual turns your off just remember that is NOT the focus of the movie. There is no portrayal in this movie of any gay or lesbian sex in any way at all whatsoever. I'm a happily married heterosexual but wasn't 'turned off' and wanted to see how the story played out.
The plot is very intriguing and you learn at the very outset of the movie that the victims are found with no liquid in their bodies and turned into what resembles shattered glass or crystal chunks\pieces\bits. The actual effect they use to show it happening is extremely cool looking too.
It's interesting how our heroine Dr. Thea Kait (Nichole Galicia) goes about analyzing what is happening in a totally logical manner like a scientific puzzle that piques her interest and she has to solve it. She's not one of those 'screaming in terror' kind of girls. She's strong.
Good supporting cast too. I will definitely want to re-watch this one! So if you're open-minded and enjoy a good science-fiction murder mystery I think you'll enjoy it!
Come Play (2020)
Not a Shallow Movie: MORE to it!
A movie with a message...surprisingly well done with a 'less is more' aesthetic. Addresses several things like alienation, loneliness, being better parents, trying to understand others more even if they are different from us, sacrifice for the good of those we love, the love of a mother, and evaluating what really matters in life (it's people that matter not the silicon addictions). Yeah, all that and more in what is on the surface just a horror movie. Not bad, huh?
...and Larry IS creepy. VERY creepy. A great slow-burn movie that makes you think with characters you come to really care about.
Abomination (2018)
AMAZINGLY well-thought out suspenseful thriller!
I've never reviewed a movie on IMDb before but this movie had NO reviews and I felt it needed one. Initially when I saw the cover art of what appeared to be a figure in a red-hooded robe and the title 'Abomination' I thought this would be one of those movies that had some sort of supernatural or occult tie-in but then I read the plot description. Not sure how 'Abomination' connects to the actual movie but that may be a cultural disconnect between Americans and those in the Philippines where this movie was made. The movie itself was atmospheric, suspenseful, and kept jumping back-and-forth between 'present day' and '2 months earlier' so you have to really pay attention and put the pieces together. Never boring at any point I was totally engrossed from A to Z. The ending totally blew me away and I've seen a LOT of movies but this one was easily better than a lot of big-budget Hollywood movies I've seen. Hard to believe it was a low-budget independent movie. VERY satisfying puzzler - one of those you want to go back immediately after first viewing with the knowledge of how it plays out and watch again through 'enlightened eyes'. EXCELLENT!